In [[w:Unix-like|Unix-like]] [[w:operating_system|operating systems]], <tt>'''/dev/null'''</tt> or '''the null device''' is a [[w:special_file|special file]] that discards all data written to it, and provides no data to any [[w:Process_(computing)|process]] that reads from it (it returns [[w:End-of-file|EOF]]).

In [[w:Unix-like|Unix-like]] [[w:operating_system|operating systems]], <tt>'''/dev/null'''</tt> or '''the null device''' is a [[w:special_file|special file]] that discards all data written to it, and provides no data to any [[w:Process_(computing)|process]] that reads from it (it returns [[w:End-of-file|EOF]]).

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In [[w:Unix|Unix] [[w:programmer|programmer] jargon, it may also be called the '''[[w:bit_bucket|bit bucket]''' or '''black hole'''. The null device is typically used for disposing of unwanted [[w:input/output|output]] [[w:Standard_streams|stream]]s of a process, or as a convenient empty [[w:Computer file|file]] for [[w:input/output|input]] streams. This is usually done by [[w:redirection_(Unix)|redirection]].

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In [[w:Unix|Unix]] [[w:programmer|programmer]] jargon, it may also be called the '''[[w:bit_bucket|bit bucket]]''' or '''black hole'''. The null device is typically used for disposing of unwanted [[w:input/output|output]] [[w:Standard_streams|stream]]s of a process, or as a convenient empty [[w:Computer file|file]] for [[w:input/output|input]] streams. This is usually done by [[w:redirection_(Unix)|redirection]].

==So why use it in a [[User:Pistevo/sig|signature]]?==

==So why use it in a [[User:Pistevo/sig|signature]]?==

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* A famous advertisement for the Titanium [[w:PowerBook_G4|PowerBook G4]] read ''[The Titanium Powerbook G4] Sends other UNIX boxes to /dev/null''.

* A famous advertisement for the Titanium [[w:PowerBook_G4|PowerBook G4]] read ''[The Titanium Powerbook G4] Sends other UNIX boxes to /dev/null''.

*A warning to users that the system's <tt>/dev/null</tt> is already 98% full.

*A warning to users that the system's <tt>/dev/null</tt> is already 98% full.

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*The [[w:April_Fool's|April Fool's]], [[w:1995|1995]] issue of the [[w:Germany|German]] magazine ''[[w:c't|c't]]'' reported on an enhanced <tt>/dev/null</tt> [[w:microprocessor|chip]] that would efficiently dispose of the incoming data by converting it to flicker on an internal glowing [[w:Light-emitting_diode|LED]].

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*The [[w:April_Fool's|April Fool's]] [[w:1995|1995]] issue of the [[w:Germany|German]] magazine ''[[w:c't|c't]]'' reported on an enhanced <tt>/dev/null</tt> [[w:microprocessor|chip]] that would efficiently dispose of the incoming data by converting it to flicker on an internal glowing [[w:Light-emitting_diode|LED]].